Christmas trees are a staple in the homes of most Westerners and Western Christians at Christmas time. Some Christians say erecting Christmas trees are fine. Other say it is a heathen practice. What does the Bible say? And what should Christians do regarding the Christmas tree?
Christians may erect Christmas trees. The Bible does not comment on Christmas trees. Based on what the Bible says about trees, erecting a Christmas tree is not a sinful activity. If Christians choose to erect Christmas trees, they should attempt to redeem it to the praise and glory of God.
What the Bible Says about Trees
The Bible does not mention Christmas trees in particular. Other than referencing trees from which people gather fruit, sit under for shade, etc., the Bible speaks of trees in three ways: places of worship, objects of worship, and referencing the cross. Let’s briefly look at each.
Trees as Places of Worship
Abraham and the Tamarisk Tree (אֶשֶׁל)
The earliest association of trees with worship is when Abraham plants a tamarisk tree (אֶשֶׁל) in Genesis 21:33. After a dispute over a well of water that Abimelech’s slaves had wrongfully seized from Abraham has been resolved by a covenant between Abraham and Abimelech (Gen 21:22–32), Abraham calls the place of the well Beersheba, meaning “well of the oath” or “well of the seven” (21:31).[1] Abraham then, plants a tamarisk tree (אֶשֶׁל) and “calls on the name of Yahweh”:
“Abraham planted a tamarisk tree in Beersheba and called there on the name of the LORD, the Everlasting God.”
GENESIS 21:33
The key question of Genesis 21:33 for this article is whether or not Abraham worshipped the tree or used the tree in worship? It is unlikely that the tamarisk tree (אֶשֶׁל) was used in worship for two reasons. First, worship is not associated with a tamarisk tree (אֶשֶׁל) in the Bible. The only other places אֶשֶׁל is used in the Old Testament are 1 Samuel 22:6 and 31:13, and the tamarisk tree (אֶשֶׁל) is not associated with worship at all in those places. Second, it has been argued that the planting of a tamarisk tree (אֶשֶׁל) is a sign of one’s intent to remain in a location for a lengthy period. This would make sense in Genesis 21 due to the dispute over Abraham’s well of water.
The phrase “calling on the name of Yahweh (‘the LORD’)” certainly refers to worship (see Gen 4:26; 12:8; 13:4; 26:25), but is not associated with the tamarisk tree (אֶשֶׁל), as argued above. Abraham is worshipping God because the dispute over the well has been settled and a covenant was made with Abimelech, resulting in peace and his longevity in the land—certainly two great reasons to worship the Lord!!
Thus, Abraham does not use trees for worship.
Foreign Nations, Israel, and Worship under “Every Green Tree” (כָּל־עֵץ רַעֲנָן)
When worship is involved with trees in the Bible, it is in association with the “green tree” (עֵץ רַעֲנָן), not the tamarisk tree (אֶשֶׁל). Throughout the Old Testament, foreign nations are derided for worshipping their false gods under “every green tree” (כָּל־עֵץ רַעֲנָן) and God’s people are told to destroy the places of worship that are erected under the green trees:
“You shall surely destroy all the places where the nations whom you shall dispossess served their gods, on the high mountains and on the hills and under every green tree.”
DEUTERONOMY 12:2
The key reason for destroying the places of worship is so that God’s people are not tempted to worship these false gods and delve into idolatry, which is unfortunately what happened at the end of Solomon’s reign and continued until both Israel and Judah were exiled:
“And Judah did what was evil in the sight of the LORD, and they provoked him to jealousy with their sins that they committed, more than all that their fathers had done. For they also built for themselves high places and pillars and Asherim on every high hill and under every green tree.”
1 KINGS 14:22–23; cf. 2 Kings 16:4; Jer 2:20
In the passages just cited, the tree is not the object of worship, but the place of worship. God’s people are not permitted to worship under trees. Rather, God’s people must worship him in the designated place of worship, which prior to Christ’s arrival was the Tabernacle and then the Temple. Pagans worship under trees, not God’s people.
Trees as Objects of Worship
Trees are not only places of worship in the Old Testament. They are also the objects of worship themselves. The most common “tree” that was worshipped in the Old Testament is the Asherah, which God’s people were forbidden to worship:
“You shall not plant any tree as an Asherah beside the altar of the LORD your God that you shall make.”
DEUTERONOMY 16:21
The Asherah was a tree or a wooden pole that was dedicated to the worship of Asherah, who was the goddess of fertility (fertility for crops and people). What is key to note here is that the tree is for the purpose of worshipping and serving Asherah. Planting trees is not a sin, but planting one for the purpose of worshipping it is a sin.
A second passage that speaks about the worship of trees is Jeremiah 10:1–5. This passage has been associated most closely with Christmas because it speaks of decorating trees, like one may do at Christmas:
“Hear the word that the LORD speaks to you, O house of Israel. Thus says the LORD: ‘Learn not the way of the nations, nor be dismayed at the signs of the heavens because the nations are dismayed at them, for the customs of the peoples are vanity. A tree from the forest is cut down and worked with an axe by the hands of a craftsman. They decorate it with silver and gold; they fasten it with hammer and nails so that it cannot move. Their idols are like scarecrows in a cucumber field, and they cannot speak; they have to be carried, for they cannot walk. Do not be afraid of them, for they cannot do evil, neither is it in them to do good.’”
JEREMIAH 10:1–5, emphasis added
Is Jeremiah denouncing Christmas trees in Jeremiah 10:1–5? No, he is not. He is describing the fashioning of idols from trees. This is clear in verse 5, which says “Their idols are like scarecrows . . . .” The term “their idols” (“they” [הֵמָּה] in Hebrew) refers back to the “trees” just described in verses 3–4. Thus, Jeremiah 10:1–5 clearly refers to idols of false gods that are fashioned from trees and overlaid with silver and gold, not anything that resembles a Christmas tree.
The Cross of Crucifixion
The New Testament does not speak about worshipping under trees or creating idols from trees, but it does speak about trees in one unique way—the cross of crucifixion upon which Christ was crucified:
“And we [the apostles] are witnesses of all that he [Jesus] did both in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They [the Jews] put him [Jesus] to death by hanging him on a tree [ξύλον], but God raised him on the third day and made him to appear.”
ACTS 10:39–40; cf. Gal 3:13; 1 Pet 2:24
The Greek term ξύλον can refer to an actual tree, but frequently refers to either (a) wood for building material or (b) objects made from wood, such as a cross or clubs (Matt 26:47). As seen above, ξύλον frequently refers to a cross, the wooden structure used for crucifixion in the New Testament, which is nothing like a modern Christmas tree.
Should Christians Erect Christmas Trees?
Now that we have analyzed the key tree passages in the Bible, we need to answer whether or not Christians should erect Christmas trees according to the Bible.
Christmas Trees are Not Objects of Worship
If Christians erect Christmas trees in the home for the purpose of worshipping them, then it would be a gross sin and Christians should not erect Christmas trees. However, this is not the case. The purpose of the Christmas tree for Christians is not to worship it. We do not fashion an idol from the tree. We do not bow down to the tree. We do not pray to the tree. We do not serve the tree. In short, Christians do not worship the Christmas tree because Christmas trees are not idols or put in the home for the purpose of worshipping them.
Christmas Trees are Not the Location of Worship
If Christians erect Christmas trees in the home for the purpose of worshipping the One True God or any false god at the location of the tree, then it would be a gross sin and Christians should not erect Christmas trees. However, I have never met a Christian who uses the Christmas tree as the location for worshipping the One True God. Christians worship God in spirit and truth (John 4:23–24), not under/at a tree.
Christmas Trees are Not the Cross of Crucifixion
Christmas trees are clearly not crosses because they are not fashioned in such a way. They are left with all their limbs, twigs, and leaves. I won’t get into the debate regarding whether or not Christians should wear or display crosses here. The point is that Christmas trees are not crosses.
The Purpose of the Christmas Tree
What is the purpose of the modern Christmas tree for Christians? I’m not concerned with the origin of the Christmas tree or its original meaning; I’m concerned with the modern Christmas tree, the one you or your family/friends erect. What is its purpose? I must confess that I don’t see a clear purpose in the modern Christmas tree for Christians! If I had to state a purpose, it is either (a) to ‘brighten up’ the house during the festive season, (b) the place to put presents, or (c) the place Santa Claus visits when he comes.
I personally do not have a problem with purpose ‘a’ or ‘b.’ It is not a sin to create a place for gifts. It is also not a sin to decorate one’s house and brighten it up. However, I have a BIG problem with option ‘c.’ Santa should have no place in the Christian home. See my article on why Christians should NOT celebrate Santa here.
Based on all the above, erecting Christmas trees is not sinful and it is fine for Christians to erect Christmas trees in their home.
With that said, if the Christmas tree (or any Christmas tradition) does not glorify and celebrate God and his Son Jesus, then I don’t think Christians should erect Christmas trees.
Redeeming the Christmas Tree
Because Christmas is about celebrating the birth of Jesus, our Saviour, everything the Christian does should be centred around worshipping the One True God, the Father of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. If Christians are going to take the time to erect a Christmas tree, they should redeem it so that it points everyone in the home to Christ and results in worshipping the One True God in the way He has told his people to worship him.
The idea of redeeming the Christmas tree came to me from Kirk Cameron’s movie Saving Christmas. Now, Kirk Cameron completely overdoes it in the movie to the point that it is comical (and not in a good way!). The movie has one of the lowest IMBd ratings on record for good reason (see that here). However, I resonate with the premise of redeeming the redeemable elements of Christmas (not all that Cameron tries to redeem is redeemable, such as Santa Claus, see why here).
Kirk Cameron suggests that the Christmas tree is really about Jesus because Adam (the first man) couldn’t put the fruit from the tree of the knowledge of Good and Evil back after eating it, but Jesus did by putting himself on a tree (ξύλον). Thus, the Christmas tree is a tree that did not need to be turned into a cross for us to be crucified on for our sins, and it becomes a reminder to us of Jesus’ death on behalf of our sins. To me, Cameron came across as saying this is what the Christmas tree always meant, even though it certainly is not. I could be wrong, but that’s how the presentation came across to me.
I applaud Cameron for attempting to redeem the Christmas tree and remind us of the significance of Jesus’ birth, which is that he would eventually die for our sins and, thus, be the saviour of mankind.
By taking Cameron’s lead, here are some other suggestions on ways to redeem the Christmas tree by reminding us of Jesus, resulting in our praise and worship of him:
- When the tree first goes up it is fresh and green. This is when the birth stories of Jesus should be read. As the tree dies over the following month, key passages of Jesus’ life should be read from the Bible. Finally, when the tree is almost (or completely) dead after Christmas, read the death and resurrection stories of Jesus. Thus, the significance of Jesus’ birth, life, and death follow the birth (erection of the tree), life, and death of the tree in your home.
- Decorate the tree with ornaments (homemade or purchased) that represent different aspects of Jesus’ life and ministry. When people come over and ask you about the ornaments (which happens a fair bit), you can tell them the biblical story.
- Use the tree as a giant prop for the Star of David and the angels. Set up the nativity under the tree (i.e., the star). Set up the magi travelling to Jesus. Fill the tree with angels like the sky when the angels appeared to the shepherds. And put the shepherds somewhat close to the stable.
The above are just three suggestions on how you can redeem the Christmas tree this year. If you erect a Christmas tree this year, how will you redeem it?
[1] The word “sheba” in “Beersheba” (שׁבע) can mean either “seven” or “to swear.” The context makes it difficult to determine which meaning is correct because both the number seven and the verb “to swear” are prominent throughout the story. It is possible that the ambiguity is intended and both meanings are intended.